London, Ontario September 2nd, 2021 – A motion was recently brought forward by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) that Canada was incompliant with a previous order to fund First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies and Jordan’s Principle. The Tribunal ordered that Canada provide funding for Child Welfare, prevention services, and Band Representative Services that would give First Nations the ability to manage and have jurisdiction over their own Child Welfare needs. The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) brought a separate, but similar motion, that Canada was not adequately funding Band Representative Services.
Grand Chief Joel Abram states “These are badly needed services that will be a major step in providing capitol for Child Welfare and Family services and Jordan’s Principle. It will help provide for Band Representative Services and associated prevention services. The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) with COO and The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) together request that Canada not go forward with a judicial review if they are serious in their commitment to reconciliation.”
Deputy Grand Chief Stacia Loft adds “If Canada moves for a judicial review it will be another obstacle to overcome, that will do nothing but slow down the process, particularly in a case that has already received a favourable decision by the CHRT. We’re tired of waiting for the government to pay their dues, especially when they continue to state their intention to help and renew their commitment to reconciliation but rather exercise adversity towards our children and their needs.” AIAI, COO, and the AFN stand together in one voice for Canada to stop standing in the way, to stand together and put actions to their words of wanting to do the right thing by Indigenous Peoples.
